Posted Monday, July 13, 2009 ; 06:13 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Monday, July 13, 2009 ; 06:43 PM
Story by Courtney Dunn AURORA -- The investigation continues into a double murder-suicide in Preston County. Additional PhotosFuneral services were held over the weekend for 50-year-old Kathy Wise and her 72-year-old mother Imogene "Kate" Shaffer. But in the close-knit community of Aurora many are still in shock that they are gone. "It's just a sad situation really it is," said Preston County Sheriff Dallas Wolfe, "I was up there and I saw the scene and it's a terrible thing." In the early morning hours of July 7 deputies discovered the bodies of Kathy Wise and Kate Shaffer outside the Wise home. The body of Charles R. Wise Jr., who police believe murdered the women then killed himself, was found inside. "It's quite a big shock," said Shad Green. "You hear of it happening all over, but in a small town..." Green is the Chief of the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department. Black banners are draped on the building, the flag is at half-mast and the sign outside reads "We will miss you Kate and Kathy" and "Our prayers are with the Shaffer family." All to honor the women who Green says played a tremendous role in the women's auxiliary. "You couldn't ask for any better people," he said. "They'd be there at the wee hours of the morning, afternoons, if an event was going on they'd be there and they were the two you could always depend on being there and they will be deeply missed." A prayer service was held at the Brookside Church of the Brethren. Pastor Scott Rush says there was not enough room in the church to fit everyone who came. And through it all Green says he has great respect for the family. "They pulled together, they work really good together and worked as a team," Green said, "and that showed a lot of courage. It's hard to deal with. I still don't know how to react to it right now -- but they will be missed." Charles R. Wise Jr. did have a history of arrests. In February he was arrested for domestic battery. According to the criminal complaint he struck Kathy Wise with a swifter duster leaving welts on her back and then shoved her to the ground. His preliminary hearing was set for August 19. In May he was charged for violating a protective order three separate times. He was arrested, appeared in court and was free on bond July 3. And on July 6 a divorce hearing was scheduled, but they never appeared. Right now authorities are awaiting autopsy results.   |
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